Prayer Requests - Answered!

SO - these are my most recent prayer requests...

I don't know what you think about prayer, and if it works, but I know that prayer is powerful. Here are four reasons why:

Request 1. Figuring out what work looks like as the year progresses and Haiti gets closer.

God is providing in an awesome way for everything to come together, work-wise. It appears to be set up for a smooth transition, and my employers are supporting and encouraging me as I move closer to getting to Haiti!

Request 2. Continued spiritual growth and challenge, and that I’d draw closer to God in this season.

I hadn't really considered it, but the spiritual renewal I have been experiencing consistently has been since about the first week of the year. Which was when I posted this prayer request. Coincidence? I don't believe in those... :-)

Request 3. An increase in monthly pledge commitments.

At an increasing percentage, people are getting involved with Mission:Haiti! And the people who want to partner are sometimes coming out of nowhere, and even approaching me! It has made it obvious to me that I clearly am not the One calling the shots on this. :-)

Request 4. For my family. :-)

This request was intentionally vague, for a lot of reasons. But God knows what all this includes. And I have seen fruit and change in several areas.

So, in conclusion, if you are on the fence, or think that prayer is hokum, I think you should test God in this. I mean, He is NOT Santa Claus, but if you are praying for things which are in line with God's desires, then He will be faithful to bring them to pass. So, what do you have to lose? Regardless of what you are praying about, you have the potential to grow closer to the God of the universe! Sounds like a win/win to me!

-Geri

Oswald quick thoughts

From Jan 25th My Utmost

As servants of God, we must learn to make room for Him-to give God “elbow room.” We plan and figure and predict that this or that will happen, but we forget to make room for God to come in as He chooses.

THAT WOULD BE ME!!!!! OOPS!

God, may I have you as my singular focus...

May I "Keep [my] life so constantly in touch with God that His surprising power can break through at any point. [May I] live in a constant state of expectancy, and leave room for God to come in as He decides."

Amen.

Thanks for your prayers - keep them coming!

Just wanted to take a minute to thank you for your prayers for me, in any capacity.

Today, while driving, I lost control of my car coming off an exit ramp I've driven literally thousands of times. I still can't figure out what exactly happened, but it was probably a combination of things. I went over a curb rather than fully turning into the merge lane, and my car went across a couple of lanes before I had control and could pull off to make sure that the car (and I) were both okay.

The lanes I went across were University Blvd, in between I-95 and Philips Hwy (US-1). This is already a busy area, during any time of day, and this happened at the beginning of lunch time. It is RARE to come off of that exit and not have to fight traffic to get over to the left lane.

But, today, as my car went over the curb, and my brain grasped what was happening, I looked out of my window (perhaps to look impending disaster in the face?). And...there was nothing. There were no cars as far as I could see. I was able to safely slow the car and cross back all the way to the right lane so that I could pull over.

Once I took a couple of minutes to check the car and calm myself, I pulled back on the road. I was immediately in traffic at the nearest red light - the one which had been deserted minutes before.

I am fine and the car seems to be okay (other than needing tires, which I am getting next week-ish).

I just keep thinking, "God, I could have died today! Thank you for preserving my life. Thank you for my life."

I have said to many people asking about my safety in Haiti, "I am safer in the middle of the will of God while serving in Haiti (or anywhere, for that matter) than I would be while not in the will of God, sitting on my mom's living room couch."

That is not to say that I am impervious to hurt, pain, or suffering. And when those come, I will do all that I can to lean on God to see me through, so He can use those events to draw me even closer to Him.

But events like what I experienced today serve to remind me that God has called me to where I am, and where I am headed. He is not finished with me yet.

So, if you have been praying for me, in any capacity, thanks. God chose today to preserve my life. I'm pretty excited about that. :-)

Great things are happening!

It has been a fantastic week/weekend!

God is doing great things - and I am excited to be a part of it!

First off, I have been reading Oswald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest, and it has really been challenging me. The last few days have talked about where, in Isaiah 6, we read of Isaiah essentially overhearing God asking, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” Isaiah responds with a sentence that many of us may remember: "Here am I, Lord, send me."

I was challenged by how Oswald looked at this situation. God was not saying, " Isaiah, will you go for me?" Instead, Isaiah essentially overhears God and when he hears of the need, Isaiah responds. How many of us take the time to listen for the calls that God puts out there? Are we eager to answer, no matter the call, "Here am I, send me"?

This whole idea challenges the idea of only certain people being called (to whatever, not just ministry/missions). The reality is that if we follow Jesus, we are called to serve Him with our lives. May we explore that today, and learn just what all that looks like and encompasses in our lives.

UPDATE: Walk of Hope for Haiti on Saturday-

News sources reported an attendance of 200. That was bigger than I thought! It was a GREAT group, and we had a good walk. I had my niece with me, and I think this was a good first 5k for a purpose experience for her, so that was fun to facilitate and watch. After the walk, we heard from Haitians familiar with the current state of their situation, as well as musicians sharing songs of hope, both in English and Kreyol. I also met a fellow missionary who I spoke with for a few minutes about her experiences serving as a nurse post earthquake. I hope to help her get back over there sometime soon to help more.

UPDATE: New Partners!

Just this weekend, several people committed to partner with me!

I have been praying for more people to pray, and that prayer has been answered in a big way already - I handed out about 7 prayer cards just today, to folks excited to pray for and with me, and for Haiti!

Also Mission:Haiti gained has gained three more monthly partners just since the last update! And someone also partnered with Mission:Haiti with a one-time gift!

Coming Soon [really, now]: My Birthday Wish on facebook -

Click here to find out more.

I am going to be 28, so I'm asking you to consider helping me meet my Birthday goal of $500 by donating $28, or any amount! Thanks for helping!

Official percentage updates will be coming soon!

Well that is the latest! My bed is calling! :-) Thanks for reading, praying, sharing, giving... and walking this journey with me!

First Mission:Haiti Update of 2011!

Hi everybody – this is Geri Bass with your first Mission:Haiti update of 2011!

Check out this two minute video first:

http://vimeo.com/18557582

I want to invite you to join me for a special event coming up soon!

To commemorate the 1st anniversary of the January 12^th earthquake, there will be a 5K Walk in Riverside on Saturday morning January 15. It is free to walk with us! Here is the link to register: http://www.haafa.org/walk-for-haiti/

See you there!

Conversations with the CLCS

I wanted to share with you about a recent conversation with Karen, a teacher at the Cite Lumiere Christian School (CLCS). She shared that another teacher is working on joining the school. I’m excited, too, because I hope to teach high school math as well as the middle school students. Check out Karen’s site here: http://clcslescayeshaiti.shutterfly.com/

She has lots of great pictures like this one:

Your prayers are vital to this ministry. Thank you so much for partnering with me in prayer.

Praise:

1. Mission: Haiti hit 50% on One Time Expenses!

2. Really awesome family and God time during all of the holidays.

3. I experienced rest and renewal over Christmas break.

4. My awesome accountability team who is walking this with me every step of the way!

5. Found a place to live with no lease and reasonable rent!

Prayer:

1. Figuring out what work looks like as the year progresses and Haiti gets closer.

2. Continued spiritual growth and challenge, and that I’d draw closer to God in this season.

3. An increase in monthly pledge commitments.

4. For my family. :-)

Partnership Development

UPDATE:

• Working closely with World Team, I was able to trim my original budget, cutting One Time Expenses by 47%.
• Based on giving to this point, I am projecting a target date of July 2011.
• This month marked an exciting milestone! Mission: Haiti hit 50% in One Time Expenses!
• Monthly pledges are at about 17%.
• All pledges have to reach 100% before I can leave for Haiti.
• Please consider becoming a part of Mission: Haiti through prayers and financial support so that the school is fully staffed this Fall. I’d love for you to be a part of the team.
• Here is a link to World Team’s giving options page – please note any gift with Geri Bass: Haiti. http://worldteam.org/?page_id=302
• Remember: all of you who are giving monthly right now – your money goes towards my One Time Expenses and will continue to build up there until it is time for me to begin living on monthly contributions.

Thank you so much for being a part of this journey with me! I thank God repeatedly for your encouragement, prayers and partnership, and belief that God’s call is worth sowing into.

Blessings,

Geri

My life mission statement:

“Placing myself in the service of others to benefit the last, the least, the forgotten and the lost; leveraging influence and skill set on behalf of the voiceless.”

Breaking the Long Silence (sorry folks!)

Hi friends!
Sorry you haven't seen a blog in a while about Mission: Haiti!

Things are still a go, if you are thinking that! :-) I just am way overdue for a Haiti update!
My plan for this blog, as we enter 2011, is to still post my updates (which you will also receive if you have asked to have it emailed to you), but to also post other Mission: Haiti related things here on a more regular basis (Goal: twice a week). This ensures that people stay in the know, and know how to pray, too!
:-)

So, with that, I just wanted to share about today (and this weekend, really) about having faith in uncertainty, where I am in that, and how God is speaking to me and teaching me within my context on the subject.

I have a lot of uncertainty right now (beyond the BIG move, I have work changes and living changes brewing on the horizon). When I boil all of it down, the biggest factor on all of it coming together is when God's timing is right to move to Haiti, when I reach 100% in partnership development. I am projecting that, based on where I am now (monthly is at 17%, and one time is at 40%, if you are wondering), I can reach 100% by the summer. I know I need to do what I need to do, but the reality is that once I do my part, the success of this is on God. I believe He has called me and lead me this far, so I now have to totally trust that He will provide where He is leading. And right now, that leading is taking me into some uncertainty.

While I have acknowledged the uncertainty before this weekend, it took some good and challenging conversations, a message, and reading Oswald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest today to bring the utter necessity of surrendering and trusting God in uncertainty.

A good friend is also in an uncertain place, and talking with her, hearing her story, exhorted me to totally trust, even when I can't figure out a plan. (This seems so obvious now, but I guess I just needed to hear it...)

Then, today, at CrossRoad Church, Alison Hunt talked about Mary, and how she totally had major uncertainty (How exactly would you explain immaculate conception to your parents, anyway?) And then Alison shared from her own life, where she and her husband are living from this same place, and they are seeking to have that attitude of Mary, where Mary said in Luke 1:38,“I am the Lord’s servant.” [You can watch the message in its entirety here (once posted by Tues Jan 4 or thereabouts).]

Finally, today, I read Oswald Chambers, and I think it was the death blow to my lack of peace in the midst of uncertainty. He starts by referencing Hebrews 11:8, where God calls Abraham to "go out" and follow Him to the unknown, which would be Abraham's (then Abram's) inheritance. Chambers goes on to say:
Have you ever “gone out” in this way? If so, there is no logical answer possible when anyone asks you what you are doing. One of the most difficult questions to answer in Christian work is, “What do you expect to do?”You don’t know what you are going to do. The only thing you know is that God knows what He is doing. Continually examine your attitude toward God to see if you are willing to “go out” in every area of your life, trusting in God entirely. It is this attitude that keeps you in constant wonder, because you don’t know what God is going to do next. Each morning as you wake, there is a new opportunity to “go out,” building your confidence in God.

I have bolded the sentences which hit the mark.

Then Chambers' asks: Have you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do— He reveals to you who He is. Do you believe in a miracle-working God, and will you “go out” in complete surrender to Him until you are not surprised one iota by anything He does?

Those are good questions, Oswald. Let me take a minute and reflect on these... hmmmm [this is me earlier]

Finally, Mr. Chambers' parting shot: Then think how unnecessary and disrespectful worry is!

Well, Mr. Chambers, I'd like to think I wasn't worrying, but, well, perhaps by analyzing all of these scenarios, I actually was worrying, and not trusting.

Point taken. I will trust, even in this uncertainty.

What about you? We all face uncertainties... how do you address the unknowns? Can you trust for God's provision and pray instead of worry? I pray that you can take a step closer in that direction this week. :-)

A related scripture I'm thinking on (here from the KJV that my Grandmama used to quote like crazy, so how could I ever forget its awesome message):
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (KJV)

Please let me know how I can pray for you! God bless! -Geri